Hole driving machine



July 5, 1938. s GATY 2,122,686

HOLE DRIVING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR.

Al 55 zy fi i W M ATTORNEY /&3 6% 7 59 J8 9 5 JEeJZGaW July 5, 1938. L GATY 2,122,686

HOLE DRIVING MACHINE Filed May 14, 19557 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J BY ATTORNEY.

July 5, 1938. L, 5 GATY 2,122,686

HOLE DRIVING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 25 50 I| H|l 4 a;

2 "IS a! f Q 24 0, jedfkf /IZ I w I INVENTO? Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES i- ATENT orricr;

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for making holes in the earth for the purpose of setting posts, poles and piling, such as for highway guard rails, fences, telegraph, telephone and electric service line poles, and foundation piling.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a machine which will form the necessary holes for setting posts, piling and poles by driving the hole instead of boring or digging the same, the hole formed by this machine being made by driving or forcing a plunger element into the ground under impact of a hammer.

Another important object of the invention is the novel provision in the machine for withdrawpreventing the walls of the latter from collapsing, after the removal of the plunger element.

A further object of the invention is the means for conveniently and quickly spotting or reaching the place where the holes for the poles, posts and piling are to be located.

The invention also includes a novel hammer or driver for forcing the plunger into the earth, the hammer provided with shock-absorbing means to lessen wear and friction on the cable, the drums and similar machine parts. The hammer also includes a novel arrangement of parts whereby the weight of the hammer may be increased or decreased.

Theabove principal and other objects of the invention will be clearly understood from a perusal of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and in the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of a tractor or a self-propelled power hoisting and swinging machine on which the parts embodying the invention are mounted, and showing the hammer in uppermost position and the plunger in a hole-forming position,v

' Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1, the view being enlarged and taken along the line 2-2 thereof,

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view of the hammer, the latter being partly broken away, and showing the guide leads therefor,

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 1, the View being along the line 4-4 thereof,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, the view being on the line 55 of Figure 1, but on a lower plane,

Figure 6 is an enlarged top view of the hammer by itself,

Figure '7 is a cross-sectional view of the haming the plunger element from the hole and for mer, the view being had on the line 1-4 of Figure 8,

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view in part of the hammer, the view being on the line 88 of Figure 6, and showing the cable connecting means,

Figures 9 and 10 are partial sectional detail views respectively of the hammer, and illustrating a modification of the cable connecting means, Figure 10 being taken on the line I 0lil of Figure 6,

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional detail View in part of the plunger in broken formation,

Figure 12 is a plan view of the hammer contact member and guide means for the plunger,

Figures 13 and 14 are cross-sectional detail views of Figure 11, the views being on the lines l3l3 and |4I4 respectively of said figure,

Figure '15 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the lower end of the plunger in open or ascending position,

Figure 16 is a cross-sectional detail view of the plunger, the view being on the line I 6-46 of Figure 11,

Figure 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the stringing of the cable used in lifting the plunger from the hole.

Figure 18 is a detail fragmentary View of the means for fastening the bottom plate to the guides.

A detailed reference being now had to the drawings and wherein like characters will designate like parts, in Figure 1 the machine is shown mounted on a tractor of any type such as is indicated generally at T, or a truck, crane or shovel. A stationary platform P and a revoluble platform Q, which are not part of this invention, provide a supporting means for an engine 0 which supplies power for operation.

Swingably secured to the platform Q is a boom of two spaced parallel members I, preferably of channel or angle iron, and forming a horizontal continuation by the members 2. Braces 3 maintain the members I in rigid spaced relation. Uprights 4 provide a support for two drums 5 and 6 upon which are wound the cables for operating the hammer and for raising the plunger after the hole is made, as well as for elevating the boom to various heights, such as for lifting poles, and more fully explained hereinafter.

The machine is provided with two vertical tubular guide lead rods 1 for guiding the hammer and the plunger in their up and down movements as the hole is being formed. These guide lead rods are joined at their upper ends by a cross port therefor.

piece 3 which forms a continuation with the members 9, embracing the tubular guide lead rods 1 and being welded thereto and providing a sup- A disk ii) is provided for each of the horizontal members 2 the disk being welded to the boom members, and each disk has disposed diametrically across one face thereof a guide member H and a pin l2, connected at one end to these guide members and traversing the disks, pivots the guide members to the horizontal boom members 2. This arrangement permits the guide lead rods 7 to slide vertically and angularly inv the guide members ll, since the guide members are pivoted centrally of the disks and secured.

The broken lines in in Figure 18, the ends of the leads seated over the members lb.

In Figures 11 to 16, inclusive, are shown the plunger for forcing or driving the hole for a post or the like, and this plunger comprises a barrel 15, one end thereof having connected thereto a conical element it which has formed therein the air ducts or channels ll, l8 and IS). The larger channel it) has disposed therein a tube 29 with I a slot 2! and a pin 22', traversing the conical element IE permits longitudinal movement of the tube to an open position, see Figure 15, when the barrel is moved upwardly, permitting air to escape through a port 23. The tube 20 completes the formation of the conical element by means of a pointed member 24, carried on the tube.

The upper end of the barrel [5 is closed by means of a cap 25 with the slots 26 for conformably engaging with and sliding along the guide rods 1 as the barrel is raised and lowered in forming a hole. Centrally of the cap is a wooden block 21 which provides a means of lessening the jar 'or impact of the hammer when the plunger is being driven into the earth. The cap is also provided with air intake. ports 28 which register with similar ducts in the barrel 15 as will be clear from Figure 13. A centrally projecting portion 29 formed integrally with the cap has spaced thereon the lugs 3% which contact with similar lugs 3! carried on the inner wall of the barrel as will be clear from Figure 11; These lugs prevent the cap from rotating. The cap and the conical element l6 are connected by means of a rod 33 through the medium of the pins 34 and 35, and spaced along the rod 33 are disks 3% to strengthen the barrel and which are provided with the openings 37 for passage of air to the lower end of the barrel, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 11. Screw plugs l5a enable the pin 35 to be removed and replaced when necessary.

For the purpose of driving the plunger into the ground in forming a hole there is provided a hammersuzih asis indicated generally at 3! In Figure 8 is shown one mode of connecting the cable 40 to the hammer and in this form the cable which operates the hammer is connected to a hook 4i and the hook in turn is passed through the eye of a bolt 42.. Members 43 and =34 at each end of the bolt 42 form a seat for a heavy coil compression spring 45, While two spaced pins 46 hold the members 43 and '44 in place, just within the neck 48. In this form. of construction the removal of the pins 46 will'enable the bolt 42 to be withdrawn when necessary. The hammer is adapted to be guided by means of the grooves 49 which slide along the guide rods 1, previously referred to, and as will be clear from Figure 3.

In Figures 9 and 10 are illustrated a modification of the means for joining the cable to the hammer, and in this modified form the cable 4|] is connected to a shorter bolt 5|] and two members 43 and 44, as in the former case, including the spring 45, are employed, also the two pins or bolts 45. Inthis modification no hook is used and the fastenings are all inside the hammer, and in the absence of the hook 4i the hammer is allowed to be hoisted approximately one foot higher. In both modes of the hammer and cable connection, the jar and shock are taken ofi the cables and the boom; It will also be apparent that the two pins 46 will'provide the lifting point in both arrangements, and there will be less wear and tear on the friction clutches, drums, increasing the life of the cables and the power unit generally;

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, on the horizontal' membersZ' of the boom are supports 2a." for mounting a pulley 222 for theflhoist cable 40 for the hammer. This cable is directed from pulley 2b to a pulley 20, mounted on a support 2d, secured to the ends of the railsS; The cable 40 winds on the'drum 6.

Referring now tothe means for lifting the plunger from the hole after the latter has been made, it'will be noted that the cap projects or. overhangs the barreli5 at the point 25a; In Figures 4, 5 and 6 is shown a collar element 54 which is adapted .to bear underneath the. cap at the point 250. in lifting the plunger. For this purpose the collar element has mounted thereon, (see Figures 4 and 5,) the sheaves G, H, I and J, and on the support 2d are mounted the sheaves A, B, C, D, E, and In Figure 1'7 is shown diagrammatically the threading 'of the pulling cable for the plunger withdrawal, the cable be-' ing indicated at 55. The dead end of this cable is indicated at 5fi'connected to one of the boom member I and passes over the successive pulleys as pointed out, passing from one side of the frame'to the opposite-side. through the pulleys A and D, and thence to the drum 6. Pnlleys M and K are mounted by the pins such as m-l on the boom members 2, while the pulleys L and N are mounted on a shaft n--l.

For lifting the boom'to various positions there are mounted thereon and over which pass a cable 59, one cable length being used foreach pulley, and the dead ends of the cables are connected I to the uprights 4 as shown.

ure 1 the plunger (or plunger barrel and its comelement 54 is being supported on the plate Ia,

and after the plunger has reached its lowermost earth penetrating position, the collar element is brought into action by operating one of the levers S. The drum 6 will then be allowed to rotate to exert a pull on the cable 55 and through its various leads through the sheaves and pulleys previously referred to the collar element 54 will contact with the marginal underside of the cap or head 25 and the plunger will be withdrawn. It will be apparent that, as the cable is reeved through the sheaves and pulleys, when the plunger is being withdrawn it is operating on an eight part line, that is the four strings of the cable on each side of the guide leads 1 will be pulling the plunger up. However, when the bottom of the plunger reaches the top of the ground, without changing the power, the cable automatically becomes a two part line, that is while the cable is still reeved through the sheaves and pulleys, the top of the collar element 54, as at 54%, will move against the pulley support at 54b. Thus While the cable is still being pulled through the sheaves and pulleys, the lifting power will only be a two-part lift, which elevates the bottom plate 1a, the collar element 54, and of course the barrel l of the plunger by contact with the cap or head 25.

This arrangement of lifting the leads 1 and other parts entirely off the ground is the most important feature of the invention, and obviates the necessity of moving the machine when a new hole location is to be made. It will be apparent that by this construction and operation, in connection with the pivotal and sliding means manifested by the'guide members I I and the disks ID, that the guide leads 1, after being thus raised off the ground, can then be moved to the next position where a new hole is to be made, and can be lifted over any obstruction and placed at any angle, and it is not necessary to move the power unit on which the parts are mounted. It will be seen, also, that a hole may be driven at any practical angle as the bottom plate 1a is pivoted to assume a flat position in line with the angular position at which the guide rods 1 may be placed. Similarly, the arrangement is convenient in conveying the machine to change of operating locations from one location to another, as in passing under bridges and the like.

During the time the plunger is being driven into the ground the tube 20 with its pointed end 24 and which constitute a valve is pressed up tightly in the position shown in Figure 11. Consequently dirt or extraneous material cannot get into the plunger barrel. When the hole is driven and the plunger is being withdrawn the pointed end 24 will remain stationary until the barrel has moved upwardly sufficient to bring the tube port 23 to an open position as shown in Figure 15. The air is then permitted to fiow through the downward extension of the cap and downwardly as indicated by the. arrows and exhaust through the port 23 into the hole. This prevents the creation of a vacuum which would otherwise cause the walls of the hole to collapse due to pressure. In addition to this form of making a hole the earth immediately adjacent the hole walls is compressed and packed due to earth displacement, making the hole walls firm and capable of standing so, long after the plunger is withdrawn.

The means for allowing air to enter the plunger barrel and thus pass into the hole when the plunger is to be withdrawn makes it much easier to elevate the plunger than would otherwise be possible.

Attention is also directed to the fact that the boom extension manifested by the horizontal members 2 and the disks ID are so arranged that the space between these boom members and the leads 1 is open and permits the setting of a telephone pole or the like without obstruction.

While there is shown and described a practical working embodiment of the machine, it is to be understood that modifications, changes and alterations may be made therein in keeping with the principle thereof without departing from the intent and spirit of the invention, and within the scope and meaning of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A machine for making holes for posts, poles and the like and adapted to be mounted on a power unit, and comprising a boom with horizontal members, spaced guide leads and supports swingably associated with the horizontal members of the boom, a hammer and a driven element adapted to travel on said guide leads, said hammer having spaced hollow divisions and removable weights for adjusting the weight of the hammer, said hammer including shock-absorbing means for connecting the hammer to an operating cable, and means for withdrawing said driven element from the hole formed.

2. A machine such as is claimed in claim 1 and wherein said horizontal boom members include disks rigidly mounted on said members, guide members pivotally mounted on said disks, whereby said guide leads are adapted to slide in said guide members in raising and lowering said guide leads off the ground and moving them to an angular hole forming position Without moving said power unit.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a boom with horizontal extensions and adapted to be mounted on a power unit, said horizontal boom members including disks rigidly mounted on said horizontal members, guide members carried on said disks, the end portions of the horizontal members being spaced from each other and providing an open space for passage of a pole or the like.

4. A machine for making holes for posts, poles and the like and adapted to be mounted on a power unit, said machine comprising a boom of spaced members, with horizontal extensions, means pivotally mounted on said extensions and carrying guide lead member and supports therefor whereby the guide lead members and supports may be slid vertically and swung laterally in moving the members and supports to hole making positions without changing the location of the power unit, and including a hole forming member, with means for operably connecting said hole forming member to and with said guide members and supports.

5. A machine such as claimed in claim 4 and including a driven element consisting of a hollow cylindrical body with a pointed end, said body having air inlet and air exhaust ports, a valve co-operating with said pointed end for automatic air release when the body is elevated and withdrawn from the hole and preventing the hole from collapsing, said machine also having means for withdrawing said driven element.

6. A machine of the class described, comprising a boom adapted to be mounted on a power unit, said boom having extensions disposed on a horizontal plane and carrying a vertically reciprocable and angularly swingable means, whereby said means may be moved to various, hole forming positions without changing the location of the power unit, sheaves mounted on one end of said reciprocable and swingable means, said machine including a driven element, means for elevating said driven element from a hole formed, said means consisting of a yoke or collar adapted to engage the driven element, a pair of sheaves mounted on each side of the yoke or collar whereby a connection by cable may be established between, to and with said sheaves on the reciprocable and swingable means and the sheaves on said yoke or collar to lift said yoke or collar and the driven element with the entire reciprocable and swingable means from the ground.

ed on said reciprocable and swingable means at the lower end thereof, a driven element with a yoke or collar element having a similar spaced paired sheavearrangement, a' projection on said reciprocable and swingable means, said' collar or yoke element having parts extending adjacent said sheaves and adapted to abut said projection on the reciprocable. and swingable means when the driven element has been withdrawn from the hole,tand thereby lifting said reciprocable and swingable means from the ground and enabling the hole forming parts to be moved to another adjacent or near-by hole makingposition without changing the location of the power unit.

' LEE S. GA'IY. 

